WITH its bold exterior design, this little SUV just screams look at me. We can tell you, with a smile on our face, that the 2021 Nissan Juke TI-O is certainly a real head turner. It got more attention than we’ve seen for much pricier sports SUVs too.
On several occasions we had passers-by stop and compliment both the interior and exterior. One such example happened when we ordered click and collect from a retailer, having said items delivered to our car.
The attendant asked us about the model and complimented the orange interior, and in particular, the the seats. We liked them too. They’re quirky, with Bose speakers built into the headrest. They genuinely produce a great audio experience.
Best described as a fun, energetic, small SUV, the Juke Ti-O has a feature rich interior to complement its pretty wild exterior design. The Ti is the range topper, with its Energy Orange internals representing the O part of its name.
It’s a very loud black and orange leather upholstery trim that just works, with absolute attention-grabbing details. Driver focused, the classy finishes and soft Alcantara throughout the cabin make for a pleasant experience.
Intelligent technology features includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 7.0-inch information display in the driver’s cluster. Other premium goodies include a 360-degree camera, heated seats and that epic sound system.
For a small SUV, cargo space is also very reasonable, with 422-litres with the rear seats up. Drop them down and you can access 1,305-litres.
We did notice that the floor inside the boot space is lower than the initial boot opening. It makes getting heavy things in and out a little complicated.
Auto LED headlights are also offered in the funky Juke, which is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged in-line three-cylinder engine, producing 84kW of power and 180Nm of torque. It’s paired to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission.
All Australian variants are front-wheel drive only, but previous incarnations have been offered with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, and all-wheel drive. We’d love to see Nissan throw that package back into a new Juke (maybe with a NISMO badge on it).
We say this because it feels like that’s exactly what limits the Juke in its current form. While the powertrain combination is good, it’s not as responsive as it could be, and is a little disengaging.
The Ti comes equipped with three drive modes, Eco for fuel saving, Sport for maximum performance and Standard, which provides a balance between the other two. It does have paddle shifters, which add a nice, racy touch.
These provide a more engaging driving experience from the smooth transmission, although no matter the mode, it does feel a little unresponsive off the mark. Nissan claims 5.8-litres/100km fuel economy and we managed 6.8-litres. Pretty impressive really.
The suspension is tuned on the firmer side as well, giving confidence through corners. The downside is you notice it over bumps around town. The steering also feels connected to the road, allowing for nimble movement and quick changes in direction.
The 2021 Nissan Juke Ti-O is rich in safety technology, including autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, lane intervention and high beam assist, intelligent lane trace and a number of ride control features.
It is available in seven colours, including Fuji Sunset Red (as tested), Vivid Blue, Ivory Pearl, Gun Metallic, Platinum, Burgundy and Pearl Black. Nissan offers a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and roadside assist, along with capped price servicing.
The 2021 Nissan Juke Ti-O is priced from $38,990 drive away.
Our test vehicle was provided by Nissan Australia. To find out more about the 2021 Nissan Juke Ti-O, contact your local Nissan dealer.
